Picked this up at the JewelOsco grocery store on Des Plaines & Fulton in Chicago. Bottled on 11/11/08.

A: Dark brown at the top and more golden colored at the bottom. Nice one finger frothy head. Really nice spotty lacing as the brew is consumed. Every sip revitalizes the head.

S: Nice bready malt with an exceptional earthy, sour, dry rye malt.

T: Very tasty. A crisp, refreshing start that goes into a lovely round bready malt taste in the middle and finishes with a rye sourness that adds a sharp tang on the palette. Not that familiar with this style but I have found that rye is really appealing to me in general. I love how it quenches the thirst. As the brew warmed up, more of a caramel malt joined the action and it was a really nice addition. The combination of sweetness and sourness almost took on a lemony profile.

M: Feels almost medium bodied - so smooth. Full in the mouth but slight tingly carbonation combined with the rye is so nice and crisp.

D: Lovely brew. It's so easy to get carried away with big beers and forget to appreciate the lovely subtleties of milder brews. This is a wonderfully refreshing beer. Perfectly balanced and just right for a session. (1,185 characters)

Pours ruddy brown with garnet highlights and an inch of creamy off white foam that leaves great lacing. Toasted rye bread with grainy accents. Spicy with caramel tones and a subtle creaminess. A touch of coffee moves into an afterthought of hops.

Very much a winter beer from look to taste, the rye adds a uniqueness and some depth. I know they are calling it a Mild of sorts but this one would do better with a bit more strength which would amp up the maltiness and fruitiness. We all know Milds can be bigger. (558 characters)

Drinkability: One of the best Goose Island beers I have had. I can really taste the rye, yet it is not overwhelming. I like how it combines with the pale malts. I could easily six this one. (454 characters)

A: Brilliatn orange/red hues with a creamy off white head that sticks around for about half the drink.

S: Substantial toasted notes. a nice malty sweetness as well as some dark fruit esters

T: moderately toasty with a touch of roasted malt. there is a good malty sweetness. There is a real spicy character (rye) here as well. Firm bitterness to balance the sweet; no real hop flavor. There are dark fruit esters throughout and the finish is sweet bordering on too sweet.

M: medium body, smooth, very sweet finish with an alcohol warmth

D: for me this was a great beer that just finishes a little to sweet to be highly drinkable. good complexity of flavor though, and I really enjoyed it. I suppose a winter beer isn't designed to allow you to quaff a six pack. I am enjoying this pint while watching the snow pile up to around a foot and a half which seems to help make this beer better. (891 characters)

A: This beer, was consumed by myself and my friend at Beck's on The Hill in Cedar Falls, and was in a pitcher before entering a pilsner glass. The color is a dark amber with hints of brown, producing a fairly white head, but the head itself had sort of a amber tint.

S: This is one of my favorite things about the beer, and I noticed it once I poured it into my glass. I got the strong smell of egg nog which I'm assuming is the dark rye used in the brewing process coming out.

T: The taste was absolutely brilliant with a nice, almost sweet finish.

M: Mouthfeel was off the charts with a nice little shimmer on the pallet to really brighten the flavors.

D: The drinkability was superior to other winter ales I've tasted, and would drink it again in a heart beat.

Overall, outstanding beer, almost wish it was around all season. I've always thought that Goose Island brewed some mighty fine beers, and after Matilda, this would be my second favorite. Cheers. (963 characters)

Poured right from the bottle with a VERY dark amber colour. Cream coloured fizzy head that died down; it didn't last more than a few sips. Nothing overpowering in the smell of the taste of the beer, except maybe a slight burnt taste/smell. No predominant malt or hop taste... pretty average. Slightly bitter aftertaste.